Grenade



J. D. STEEL Amin 3, 1945.

GRENADE Filed March' 1'7, 1941 INVENTOR B'Y rzgd `JoHN DAWSON 571551.

was,

A77 TOENEY Patented Apr. 3, 1945 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE GRENADE John D. Steel, Fort Worth, Tex. Application March 17, 1941, serial No. 383,800

' 2 claims. l (ci. 1oz-2) This invention relates to explosive bombs or grenades of the type which may be employed with re arm projectors, released from airplanes or manually projected, and it has particular reference to a device embodying a compact'assemlocked in ring position to be released on contact with some object, such as theground, and a locking device designed to retain the ring assembly in firing position until released by the air current acting upon a propeller connected with the locking mechanism.

Yet another object; of the invention resides in the provision of a visible indicator or signal adapted to indicate the position ofthe firing pin from the exterior of the casing providing a means whereby the internal condition of the grenade? can be determined at all times from the exterior of the assembly.

While the foregoing objects are paramount, other and lesser objects will become manifest as the description proceeds taken in connection with the appended drawing wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates the invention, partially in cross section, showing one half of the casing removed and depicting the firing pin assembly in firing position.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional illustration of the visible indicator assembly by which the position of the firing pin assembly is determined exteriorly of. the casing.

Figure 3 is a perspective illustration of one half of the casing.

Figure 4 is a vertical cross 'sectional view of the firing pin and percussion cap arrangement, taken on lines 4-4 of Figure 5, and showing the firing pin in ring position,

Figure 5 depicts in plan the firing pin assembly inserted from the bottom of the casing, taken on lines 5-5 of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a lateral cross sectional view taken l depicts the locking device for the propeller provlding a safety arrangement and capable of op.- eration through the medium of a cord shownv in Figure 1.

Accordingly, therefore, the inventioncomprises an assembly which is encasedwithin a housing I, illustrated particularly in Figure 1, preferably formed in two parts 2 and 3, the latter being shown in perspective in Figure 3. The primary portion 2 of the housing I is formed with a conical integral member 4 at one end having a bore 5 therethrough, the purpose of which will be hereinafter shown. v

Since the device may be adapted lto distribu tion from the air it is desirable, although not necessary, that the housing I be streamlined and provided at its smallest end with fins I, as illustrated in Figure 1. Around the upper ends of the fins 6 there is arranged a band I designed to protect the mechanism arranged therewithin and which will be presently described. The opposite half of the casing 3, shown in Figure 3, is formed to be adjusted to the member 2 so that the projecting flanges 8 may be received by bosses forming recesses 9 in the member 3 and in order that the resulting contact `between the two members may be properly sealed. The upper endrof the member 3` is recessed at a to receive thedepending semi-circular shoulder b integral wit the member 4 heretofore described.

The bottom of the housingl is formed by a circular member I0 having an annular indentation I I therearoundas shown in Figures land 5, adapted to be received by the lowermost rim of the two members 2 and 3 of the housing I.

The circular member Il) is provided with a central integral tubular member I2 ladapted to extend upwardly into the housing I, in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, and having its upper end threaded at c by which it is secured within the member 4. The ring pin assembly, illustrated in detail in Figure 4, is secured to the member ID and extends horizontally thereon adjacent to the tubular member I2, as illustrated in Figure 5. This assembly consists of a tubular housing I3 having a thickened portion I4 on one end adapted to receive a percussion cap I5 positioned to be engaged by a firing pin IG arranged in the opposite end of the casing I3. The firing pin is provided with a head I'I by which the pin I'B is retained in firing position, as shownin-Figure 4, through the medium of a lock I8 against tension of a spring I9. Obviously, when the lock I8 is withdrawn from behind the head II, the pin I6 will be actuated by the spring I9 against the percussion cap l5 to explode the charge within the casing l. The operation of the assembly, however, Will be described in greater detail presently.

The lock I8 is rigidly secured through an arm 2U to the upper end of a plunger 2| having a contact button 22 rigidly connected to its lowermost end, as illustrated in Figure 1. The plunger 2I is operatively arranged within a. bore 23 forming Aa continuation'of the tubular member I2 through the member l1) which forms the bottom closure ,of the housing I. The lock I8, therefore, is released from the firing pin I6 when the button 22 comes in contact with some object with, suilicient force to urge the plunger 2| upwardly.V

As a precaution against the premature releasing of the ring pin, a locking assembly is provided which operates within the tubular element |2, previously described, and comprises a tubular shaft 24 rotatably disposed Within the member I2 and having a propeller 25 attached to its uppermost end. The propeller is retained against rotation by a pin 26 detachably secured through a bracket assembly 21 rigidly fixed to the conical end of the housing I, as shown in Figure 1, or at the upper end of the integral member -'4. The bracket assembly 21 is partially supported by the fins 8 and provides a rigid anchorage for the pin 26 to which is connected a cord 28, of silk or the like, the opposite end of which may be coiled and anchored so that when the `grenade is dropped the pin 26 is withdrawn from the bracket as sembly 21 permitting the propeller 25 to rotate.

The hollow shaft 24 is secured Within the -tubular element I2 against longitudinal movement by Ia bearing 29 arranged around its lowermost end, as shown in' Figure 1. Another bearing '30 ls provided at the upper end of the member I2 insuring smooth operation of the tubular shaft 24.

A stationary rod 3| is arranged through the tubular shaft 24, as illustrated in Figure 2, having its lowermost end threaded at d to correspond with the interiorly threaded lower end of the shaft 24 vso that as the 'latter is rotated the rod 3| is moved longitudinally within the shaft ,24, retained against rotation by a fluted member 32 engaged by small grooves '33 within the lcwermost end of the tubular member I2.

The member 32 is urged downwardly against the `upper end of the plunger 2|, as illustrated in Figure 1, to retain the lock .I8 'in position against the r'ing pin head |1 4and prevent the `operation of the firing pin assembly until the member 32 is disengaged therefrom by the rota-- tion of the tubular shaft 24 by the propeller 25 "when acted upon by air currents.

The invention is assembled by inserting the threaded upper end c of the tubular member 1'2 into the integral portion 4 of the housing I and threading the same thereinto until the closure member IIJ 'at the bottom ofthe housing I is in position, as illustrated in Figure 1. The charge is placed within the member 2 of -the housing I and the lock `|i8 -isinserted behind the head kI1 of the iring pin IB, in the manner illustrated, and the rod 3| is threaded downwardly by the propeller 2.5 until the Amember '32 engages the upper end -of the plunger 2| forming an integral part of the button 22.

After the Acharge is inserted and the firing pin assembly placed in firing position, in the manner just described, the opposite section 3 of the housing I is placed in position and `secured to the member 2 by screws 34, or the like, linserted through bosses 35 in themember 3 and threaded into corresponding bosses 36 in the member 2, in the manner illustrated in Figure 6. Unless the firing pin assembly is placed in firing position prior to closing the housing I the upper end of the rod 3| would project above the upper end of the tubular shaft 24, indicating that the ring assembly is not in proper position. Thus a visible signal is provided at all times whereby it may be readily determined whether or not the invention is in proper working condition.

The propeller 25 and the safety pin assembly 26 are protected by the band or guard I previously referred to and illustrated in Figure v1, thus preventing any injury to any part of this arrange ment while the invention is being transported or handled. 'The release of the lock I8 of the firing pin assembly is entirely dependent upon the rotation of the propeller 25 which rotates the shaft 24, in the manner previously described, causing the rod `3| to move longitudinally within the said shaft toward and away from the upper end of the plunger 2| permitting the same to move upwardly and release the lock I8 from the ring pin l1 when the button 22 cornes in contact with some object, only the slightest force being necessary to release the firing pin assembly.

Obviously, the invention is perfectly safe lor handling, shipping and even assembling, when the ring pin assembly is in the position illustrated in Figure l and locked by depressing the member 32 against the upper end of the plunger 2|, in the manner just described. As long as the propeller .25 is retained by the pin 26 against rotation the rod 3| cannot be moved longitudinally within the tubular shaft 24. When the rod 3| is urged upward-ly within the shaft 24. however, the upper vend of the vsaid rod will appear above the propeller assembly and indicate that the firing pin assembly is not in the proper position so that the invention may be opened and the fir-ing pin locked in firing position by the lock IB., in the manner previously described.

Maniiestly, the structure herein shown and de-4 scribed is .capable of considerable changes and modifications from time to time by those skilled in the ait and such changes and modications as may be resorted to which may be considered as coming within the spirit and intent of the in vention may also be considered as coming within the scope of the appended claims.

, What is claimed is:

l. A grenade of the type adapted to explode upon impact, including end members, a tubular member connecting the same, a ring pin mounted on and movable transversely of one end member, a percussion cap in the path of the ring pin, a pin-actuating spring, a plunger mounted to slide in said `end member and projecting therebeyond, a lock connected to the plunger and normally engaging and restraining the firing pin, a non-rotatable screw-threaded yelement mounted to slide within the tubular member and normally positioned to hold the plunger and lock against sliding movement, a hollow shaft journalled in the other end member and rotatably mounted 'in the tubular member, said hollow shaft being held against longitudinal movement and being in enn gagement with the threaded element, a propeller wheel secured to the tubular shaft, opposed casing members for holding an explosive and pro portioned to embrace the `end members and bridge the space therebetween, and means for clamping the Ycasing members together `and upon the end members to hold all of said members assembled.

22. A .grenade of the type adapted to explode upon impact, including end members, a tubular member connecting the same, a firing pin mounted on and movable transversely of one end mein-y ber, a percussion cap in the path thereof, a pinactuating spring, a plunger mounted t0 slide in said end member and projecting therebeyond for impact against an objective, a lock connected to and movable with the plunger andnormally engaging and restraining the firing pin, a nonrotatable rod mounted to slide within the tubular member and normally holding the plunger against sliding movement in one direction, said rod having a screw-threaded portion, a hollow therebetween.

shaft journalled in the other end member and rotatably mounted in the tubular member, said hollow shaft normally housing the rod andengaging the threaded portion thereof, a propeller wheel secured to the tubular shaft-and constituting means, when rotated, for rotating the hollow shaft and feeding the rod longitudinally, said rod being proportioned to project outwardly from the hollow shaft when moved from normal position, and an explosive-containing casing connecting the end `members and surrounding the space JOHN D. STEEL. 

